Chapter 1 - Outbreak

Emmerich just sat there, watching as Don snapped at Claire, then started on Nostromo. And even though he got tired of seeing people get irritated over such nonsense, Emmerich did not dare get in the middle of it.

After Raiz left, Emmerich decided to head to his room for the night. However, he preferred to walk around the ship, for the last time he took the transport, he lost a tip on his wing.

So as he headed up the staircase, Emmerich heard Raiz howl and ran for the simulator room. In there was Claire and Raiz shooting the undead, human simulations. "What an awkward pair those two seem to be." he thought to himself. "What is the obsession with humans and blowing of others' heads?" But this is what seemed to be keeping them busy, and he headed upstairs for some sleep.

Raiz walked out of the transporter and headed to his room, he knocked out of habit, even though it was his room too Don had a right to privacy same as everyone. He inputted the code and opened the door then walked in "Hey Don." he said with a yawn, "Not breaking any hearts while I'm out i hope" he kidded and jumped onto his bed exhausted from his mistake in the simulator. "Anyway I'm out for the night let me know if i get any mess...age......s...." he said before completely falling asleep.

Nostromo realized it the moment his eyes had opened restlessly, he realized that the configurations on the drop-ship where not yet complete. Sure he could take care of things tomorrow, but now that it had entered his thoughts, he was almost possessed by the need to get a head start on things.

He eventually left his quarters and made his way down to the hangars, not even bothering to turn on the lights as he stepped into the darkness of the large hall with the small light of his laptop like device.

He spend the next few hours typing away almost without pause, going through the on-board computers sub-routines and updating them with the new updates that came in almost as soon as the turn of the day into the next. The only break that he took was seconds long, and consisted of drinking the pick-me-up beverage that he held inside a can.

Eventually the ships main flood lights came online with a 15% increase, moving about the area and helping the focus guided port cannons run their routine processes, nothing was armed of course, that would consist on his hand guided activation, strictly personalized of course.

If the night lasted on like this, he would likely fall asleep where he was, seated on the floor of the cockpit area, stopped somewhere with his actions as he suddenly snapped out and drifted into sleepy land.

Claire eventually went to bed, but only for a few hours, as always. When she woke, She showered, dressed, and went to her station and performed daily maitinance and checks on the mainframe. SHe also started on the firewalls, and updating everyone through private e-mails that if they were having trouble in the simulator room to use the simple overide code. She still couldn't beleive someoen was able to unlock her private game files. At least the poor guy diddn't open the Silent Hill games.

She liked this time of the schedule. Every one slept, and she had the ship practically to herself. It was times like these she wished she had a dog. McGruff diddn't count.

Chare's face turned red instantly, but hid it from the captain. She thanked him for the compliment, " Goodmornign captain. But I must say that these are my usual hours. And most days, the mere sense of living is joy enough." It was aline quoted from Emily Dickenson, but it truely applied to Claire's view on the subject.


She looked at Marie and felt a bit hurt. That girl needs to get a grip, it wasn't like Alastor was hitting on Claire, and she was far prettier than Claire ever could hope to be. She quickly asked Marie for some vitamins and an instant breakfast drink.

After a pause, Claire said out of curiosity, "What makes you happy, captain? If I may ask."

He felt the ship dock ans woke up, sitting up so fast he almost fell off his bed. He rubbed his eyes, yawned and then just got up, picked up his stuff and headed for the engine room. When he arrived he saw Key sleeping over his workbench and smiled, "Idiot cant think of anything but engines..." he said. He walked over to the engine and put his hand on it, feeling its vibrations letting him now if there was a missing tune, he smiled and walked back up headed for the outside for some exploring "Ship's doing fine and now I'm outta here."




(hope things dont get to far ahead before i get back today, Oh and i thought ide out a picture of Key in)

Donovan woke to Raiz's bulky movements and a mix of the ships halt as it came into dock. He was disappointed in himself for falling asleep before Raiz came in, but was glad that he got in none the less.

Standing up, he stretch a bit with a big yawn and grabbed his towel, heading for the men's shower room. Once he was there, he said. "Donovan, water temp hot, pressure slightly above average." he then stripped and got in. He just stood under the water, enjoying the feeling. He liked the warm water pelting his skin, it was almost as if it were massaging his muscles.

After a few minutes of relaxation, he turned the water "Off" and stepped out, drying himself up a bit before wrapping the towel around his waste and making his way back to his room.

WHen they docked Claire hooked the ships computers up to the stations. Since this was a federal satelite, they could have upgrades that would be extremely handy on the ship. Not to mention maybe a few secret government files acccidentaly being transfered over?

She smiled at that last thought. She greatly distrusted the government, so keeping tabs on them was another hobby of hers.

Now that the ship was docked she diddnt need to work as much on the system. She thought about maybe getting some sleep, since she was aprehensive about stepping foot on a fed station. It had been a long time since she had been to one.

Claire was starting to get increasingly uncomfortable without a job to do.

Donovan came into the bridge, tying his hair back up and now fully dressed in what didn't seem to be much different from yesterday's clothes. Once he was done tying his hair, he spoke up. "Claire?" he said, trying to get her attention. She looked out of place.

"Hay Donny, what;s up?"

She was still a little emmbarased about yesterday, but hopefully it was behind him. It always took Claire longer to recover from something like that.

"By the looks of it, only you, me, and Alastor." he grinned, trying to make a joke to lighten things. He headed over to his terminal at the front of the ship, looking at the maintenance scores and maneuverability scores on his weapon dry. No matter how could the tech was on the ship, he always checked his own stuff because who knew it better then the person using it?

She laughed. "And that Marie girl....I think she has a thing for the captain. She gave me the evil eye this morning."

Claire spun around in her chair.

"Alastor said something wierd thismorning."

"take such looks as a compliment. Someone being jealous of you only means that they feel you outdue them." he said casually, before giving her a concerned look. His mood not so joyous now. "What do you mean....weird?" He finished what he was doing and turned to her, his attention concentrated on what she had to say.

"I don't think something is wrong with him. I'm just not sure what to make of it. He said I should find something to make me smile, and that I was pretty....it just kinda creeped me out. But i tmade me think though. Do I seem like Im unhappy all the time?"

Raiz wandered around looking for a the right back ally to wander into, looking out of place a barefoot teen with a tail and dog ears in a baggy black shirt. He smiled as he found an ally with a few people behind a curtain, "They might have them..." he said as he walked in to the makeshift store.

Later on that day he was walking down the street with smile on his face, pleased that he found what he was looking for, "I have thirteen now." he thought as he headed back to the ship wondering who was up by now.

"Oh, is that all?" he grinned, "Don't read too much into that. It's just how he communicates with people, especially women." he turned around, turning off his terminal, then looking back at her. "You see why Marie's heart is all aflutter now...yes?" he asked, not really looking for an answer, just something for her to reflect on.

He walked out right then, heading for the armory to pick up his pistol. He never left without it.

Unlocking the armory door, he then moved to the back and opened a safe. Inside was his pistol and the ammo for it. He smiled. "Hello, old friend." he said, pulling out his pistol and flipping the chamber open. He slid a bullet into each empty chamber then closed it. Putting the bullets in his pocket of his trench coat and the pistol hidden on him, he headed back to the bridge.

Nostromo glanced up into the vastness of space as its ethereal glow passed in a thousand stars glows of the endlessly enormous window hulls of the space colony. He was looking up through the glass like roof of his shower as the water beat down around his body and cleaned and lifted his body of the adverse and tense feelings that he had been experiencing lately, more so the longer he was left to himself.

The moment the shower cycle had concluded, the on-board computer switched into the dry mode and surged its fans across his body, ensuring through its multi-scan and adjustment cycles that every hair follicle on his head would be dried and treated appropriately.

A glance in the mirror would produce a light smirk; “At least I don’t look at that beat!” he mused, and eventually stepped out of the shower to dress in a lighter version of his usual attire. He was concerned a bit with how the final preparations on his drop-ship would pan out, but for now he would be more willing to take his mind off the things around him; least the captain asked him to, fearing he would overstrain himself again.

The passage into the space colony ended with the sudden strike of a beautiful sunshine across his face, easily making him pull out the sunglasses he had been saving. It was just going to be Nostromo it seems, but that wasn’t something he was too concerned about, since he did not really no any differently, spending his time getting an enjoyably cool drink and taking the near Mediterranean view of the beach front. It seems the city was broken up into several sectors, but every single one seemed to hold its own vexing qualities.

A few hours later, Nos stood in a virtual arcade, and one lined with centuries of different video games ranging from the most integrated virtual dimensional cyber rpg’s, to the most oldest forms of video games, especially one that he most loved called, “Space Investor”. Interestingly enough it seemed to have nothing to do with investing, and everything to do with fending off against an armada of polygonal alien invaders.

It wouldn’t be long before a crowd of girls entered the place, all concerned with different interests in the arcade games there; and even though most would not admit it, they where always on the look out for cute looking guys. It was likely that quality and a bit of the absorbed enthusiasm with which Nos was playing his “Investor” game, that essentially caught the girls attention.

“Are those tattoos on his face?” said one a bit too loud, though completely oblivious to Nostromo’s ears, “Who cares, look at his blue and green eyes, that’s so cool..” said another. Eventually however a few approached him more closely, at least brave enough to watch him, “..Hey girls! If you cheer me on a bit, I might just make the high-score list!”. Obviously he would have to explain to them on the side what that meant, but at least it got some of the girls to watch him with a bit more enthusiasm, he was very cool about it after all.

Passing through the bridge he made his way into town. He didn't blend in well, and in fact he stood out even more because the people tended to avoid walking near him. He sighed, knowing that it was the way he looked that scared the people, he made his way into an alleyway, where he went into a cloaked mode.
He reappeared outside a small store. Pushing through the door he walked inside. At first glance it was just a watch shop, but Donovan knew the man better then that.
"care to show me the real merchandise?" he grinned.
"This is all we have sir" the man snapped, rather quickly, in his middle eastern accent.
"Bullshit" he pulled out his gun, slamming the nozzle into the top of the man's hand, pinning it to his counter top.
"Show me...or lose it" he smiled. Needless to say the man agreed.

Raiz made it back to the ship ok, nothing bad had happened and he found what he was looking for plus an extra thing. As he walked down the hall it was like the ship was abandoned and it felt weird without anyone else doing something. he ended up walking into the kitchen, it was empty everyone out enjoying themselves it looked like, he washed his hands and started on the recipe he had gotten in town. After a while it was done, an old dish that had peaked his interest, Lasagna, he made enough to feed around ten people and took it up to the bridge with some plates forks and for some class, wine with a few glasses. He snuck in without a sound and laid it on his weapons station with a note that said "Enjoy" he took a piece and walked out.


Raiz headed back to the engine room with a content look on his face, "Yo, key want some of this dish i got?" he said as he walked in. Key wasn't in the same place he was in the morning so he figured he was working, "Key?" he called out again, but only the sound of the boiler could be heard, he waited there hoping to catch a sound but his nose led him to the door "Lock..." he said

Donovan walked back up to the ship, standing just outside the entrance with a box about as long as his forearm. He seemed happier now. Waltzing onto the ship, he opened the box at his terminal. Inside was a one-handed powerhouse weapon, commonly known as a sawed-off shotgun.

He grinned at the sight of it. Polishing it a bit before hand, he put it in a belt slot and hid the ammo on his person and made his way back to the outside of the ship. Upon exiting the ship, he looked around for any of the Nexus members.

"Not really..." she muttered at the comment Don made about Marie.

I knew he was just being nice, and that was all. I just wanted to know if something ELSE was wrong with me...

She wandered off the ship only to find a small halo-book store. She picked up a book in the romance section, topok one look at it, and almost puyt it down as her face turned red. She hesitated a moment before purchasing it and going back to her room to read.

He watched as Claire came back towards the ship with a book in hand. He was looking for some company, so figured he would try at a little small talk with her. "Hey Claire....just getting back from your shopping?" he looked down and saw the book.

"Im not much of a reader, but im curious as to what someone like you might read." He pointed at the book. "mind if i take a look?"